THE Ministry of Defence has confirmed the appointment of the Royal Malaysian Navy Chief as Acting Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces, effective immediately, following the mandatory retirement of the incumbent armed forces commander.
In a statement issued today, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the transition was in line with the retirement of General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, who stepped down upon reaching the compulsory retirement age.
As a result, the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain, has been appointed to assume the duties of Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces on an acting basis with immediate effect.
The ministry expressed its highest appreciation for Mohd Nizam’s service, leadership and contributions throughout his tenure at the helm of the Malaysian Armed Forces, and conveyed its best wishes for the smooth conduct of his retirement.
At the same time, the Defence Ministry announced that the Chief of the Malaysian Army, General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan (pic), has been placed on immediate leave to facilitate investigations into certain allegations that have been reported.
The administrative measure, which takes effect immediately, is intended to allow the relevant authorities to carry out their investigations without any potential conflict of interest.
The ministry stressed that the decision to place the Army chief on leave is a procedural step to ensure that the investigative process can proceed smoothly and transparently until its conclusion. - December 27, 2025
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